Campsite near Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
Discover Saint-Cirq-Lapopie: the pearl of the Lot Valley
Near Le Bois de Sophie, our 3-star campsite in the Lot, admire the medieval village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, set spectacularly above the river on a cliff. It is an intoxicating cascade of cobbled streets, Gothic facades, fortified gates and hollyhocks. Saint-Cirq Lapopie is a listed site with 13 historic monuments, once home to a thriving canal-boat industry and renowned for its woodturners. The village has preserved all of its heritage, but also all of its charm. Shops, restaurants and cafés shelter from the sun in the shadows of the ogival doors, while the overall harmony of the site is striking.
A masterpiece of the medieval period
At the foot of the church of Saint-Cirq, the intertwined roofs show the density of the medieval town, squeezed along the main street between 2 fortified gates: above, the Payrolie (boilermaker's quarter), below, the Pélissaria (shrew-maker's quarter).
In the words of André Breton, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie remains an eternal jewel straight out of the Middle Ages, over which time seems to glide. In search of inspiration, artists have found it a blessed place to give free rein to their imagination. And let's not forget that it was voted 1st Favourite Village of the French in 2012.
Saint-Cirq-Lapopie has nonetheless been a defensive site with a turbulent history, dominated by the three castles of the most powerful lords of Quercy, Cardaillac, Gourdon and Lapopie. The largest of these was destroyed by Henry of Navarre. At the foot of the village, mills, a lock, a harbour and a bargemen's chapel are reminders of the days when Saint-Cirq-Lapopie was a thriving boating centre.
Breton and his artist friends, who collected the agates carried by the river, said that they were treading on the soil of paradise on earth.
Every Wednesday in season, you can enjoy a market with local producers selling fruit, vegetables, cheese, bread and more.
The tourist office will provide you with a map of the village to help you discover the history of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie.
St-Cirq-Lapopie can be reached by road, river or towpath from Bouziès, on foot or by bike.
